Here’s your guide to last-minute Thanksgiving wine shopping

 It’s the biggest meal of the year.

But it’s also one of the trickiest to match with wine.

A typical Thanksgiving dinner is a cornucopia of flavors.  There’s sweet and tart and buttery and spicy and rich.

Here are our Turkey Day recommendations…wines that will compliment each phase of the feast.

For the entire meal, Champagne/Sparkling wine or Rosé

https://www.stollerfamilyestate.com

http://roedererestate.com/index.html

It’s a lot to ask any single type of wine to match with the wide variety of Thanksgiving flavors.  But if you do want to keep it simple…and pour the same type of wine throughout the entire meal…go with either Champagne/Sparkling wine or Rosé.  Both varietals are very food friendly.  Both will either compliment most foods or at the very least, won’t fight any Turkey Day flavors.  Plus, it’s a special day and what could be more special than a flute of bubbles?

For the main event…turkey and all of the trimmings…Pinot Noir or Pinot Gris

https://www.ponzivineyards.com

https://www.kingestate.com

https://www.montinore.com

Turkey is a lean meat.  Don’t overpower it with your trophy Cabernet.  Pinot Noir, with its medium body and earthy flavor, is a terrific compliment to turkey…both white and dark meat.  If you want to also pour something white, go with Pinot Gris.  It’s tangy acidity and spicy tones will mix well with turkey, savory stuffing and most every dish in the main meal, except the sugary yams and sweet potatoes.

Sweets for the sweet!  For dessert, go with Port or Riesling

https://www.atozwineworks.com

https://www.taylor.pt/us

You’ve come this far.  You don’t want to blow it by pairing a dry red or white with a sugary dessert.  This is where you match sweet for sweet.  For the pumpkin/apple/pecan pie, chocolate layer cake or cranberry tart, pour Port or a medium-to-sweet Riesling.  Then light up a cigar, watch the rest of the football and kick back.

(OK, maybe not the cigar.  They’ll kick you out of the house. But a cigar with a vintage Port?  That’s worth standing outdoors in the cold for.)

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  Enjoy the feast!